Tenderly nuanced.
A child experiences big emotions after their parents separate.
A loving family—Mommy, Daddy, and child—have a fun summer outing at the beach. Then, just as the waves wash in to claim the family’s sand castle, the parents say they won’t be living together anymore. The child is distraught, with feelings roiling inside them like the sea. The adults say, “Sometimes grown-ups separate….But parents are forever.” Autumn arrives, and then winter snow, and the child plays with Daddy at his new house and with Mommy on a sledding hill. The child continues to have big, sudden feelings about the breakup, but each time the parents provide reassurances that all emotions are valid. “We can’t stop our feelings, or the leaves from dropping...but we can catch them as they fall,” says Daddy. As the seasons change, life does as well (like Mommy having a new partner), and that knowledge frees the child’s mind. This book deftly compares emotions to nature and conveys the message that life goes on, ever changing and ever growing. The text and illustrations work harmoniously to provide examples and extend the metaphors. This one is ideal for young ones processing a big life change. Mommy is light-skinned, Daddy is brown-skinned, and the child has light brown skin; supporting characters display a wide variety of skin tones. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Tenderly nuanced. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-68464-494-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A kindhearted, instructive tale with a Hawaiian twist.
Ebalaroza-Tunnell introduces the universal spirit of Hawaiian Aloha and its cultural and practical significance.
The narrator, Dr. G, whom we meet in a classroom, says: “Aloha is a powerful word that comes from the islands of Hawaii and has many beautiful meanings.” Dr. G has tan skin, dark brown hair, and kind eyes, and she wears a pretty yellow dress. Although “Aloha” means both “hello” and “goodbye,” it can also mean ”love,” she explains to the class. She provides a fun way of remembering the spirit of ALOHA: The letter A is for “ask,” so we can learn new ways of doing things. L is for “listen,” to really hear what others have to share. O is for “observe,” particularly the physical manifestations of our feelings. H is for “heart,” and the final A is for “adapt,” so we can change our attitudes and behaviors to grow and thrive. For each letter, Dr. G offers activities children can do, including journaling and breathing exercises. The text uses simple vocabulary and short sentences to describe relatively complex ideas, and Fadhilah’s cartoonlike illustrations of children of different races and ethnicities practicing the activities set a serene, inclusive scene.
A kindhearted, instructive tale with a Hawaiian twist. (Ages: 4-6, picture book)Pub Date: Feb. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9798989787005
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Plowline Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A gentle delight, simultaneously honoring both the dog dePaola lost and the artist we lost in turn.
For this posthumously published work, dePaola draws one final time upon close personal experience to pen a picture book, this one an ode to his beloved dog Brontë.
Speaking in the first person, dePaola walks readers through the early days of Brontë’s life, from the moment he picked the pooch up at the airport to the pink collar the dog wore. As Brontë ages, he loses his sight but remains loving. And when the dog does at last die, dePaola moves through his grief, eventually finding comfort in the knowledge that “I knew you were right there, still with me, in my heart forever.” The story evokes other tender tales by dePaola, also inspired by moments in his life. Meanwhile, images throughout the book are peppered with references to dePaola’s books, like a spaghetti dinner attended by a guest reminiscent of the protagonist of the Caldecott Honor–winning Strega Nona. Tasked with illustrating the title after dePaola’s passing, McClintock pays tribute to his art while also managing to retain her own particular style. The love between man and dog is palpable in every spread. And while the book will speak to children who have said goodbye to pets of their own, it will also aid readers in grieving for the author himself.
A gentle delight, simultaneously honoring both the dog dePaola lost and the artist we lost in turn. (Informational picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781534418509
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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